For a few years, you wanted a satellite tv for pc dish to obtain the complete Sky TV expertise. You can get lots of its channels via Now or a rival paid service, resembling Virgin Media or BT TV, however when you needed all the line-up of programming, a Sky field, Sky+ HD or Sky Q, was the one actual possibility.
Nonetheless, that modified in 2021 when Sky Glass was launched. It is an own-branded good TV that gives all the Sky expertise over broadband, plus 4K HDR (Dolby Imaginative and prescient) visuals and Dolby Atmos encompass sound in a single easy and neat bundle. You do not want a satellite tv for pc dish.
So, how does it examine with the Sky Q expertise and is it price upgrading to Sky Glass in case you are already a Sky Q buyer?
Sky
Sky Glass
Sky Glass is not simply Sky over the web, it is an entire system, together with the 4K HDR (Dolby Imaginative and prescient) TV and Dolby Atmos sound setup in-built. All reveals and flicks are streamed quite than delivered by satellite tv for pc, though you possibly can nonetheless document or playlist content material which is saved within the cloud.
Sky Glass vs Sky Q: {Hardware}
- Sky Glass: All-in-one 4K HDR TV, Dolby Atmos sound system, Sky over broadband service
- Sky Q: Set-top-box related to satellite tv for pc dish, gives on demand content material through broadband
Sky Q is an ecosystem that includes a Sky Q satellite tv for pc field that you just plug into your TV and elective Sky Q Mini bins that can be utilized across the house to supply a multiscreen expertise. It requires each an web connection and a satellite tv for pc dish. You get a voice distant with Sky Q, with voice instructions activated via a button press.
Sky Glass is a tv, with its personal display screen and Dolby Atmos sound system. It requires a connection to the web, however is a dish-less expertise. You additionally get a voice distant with Sky Glass, however the TV has its personal far-field microphones too, so you should utilize voice instructions via a wake phrase in addition to a button press (“Whats up Sky”).
Multiroom viewing is out there with Sky Glass too, via what Sky calls a “Stream Puck“.
One additional factor to pay attention to is that, whereas each Sky Q and Sky Glass require web connections they work in several methods. Other than streaming companies, on demand content material on Sky Q is mostly downloaded to your field. You possibly can watch it quickly after hitting play, with the remainder downloading as you watch.
Sky Glass, alternatively, streams content material instantly. That is particularly necessary in relation to web speeds. You may get away with slower web speeds for Sky Q, for instance, though you’ll have to wait longer to view your TV present or movie. Sky Glass requires a minimum of 11Mbps broadband for HD viewing, 30Mbps for 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos.
Sky Glass vs Sky Q: Image and sound
- Sky Glass: 4K HDR – HDR10, HLG, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, Dolby Atmos sound via built-in audio system
- Sky Q: 4K HDR – HLG, Dolby Atmos sound output
Sky Q is able to outputting at as much as 4K HDR (via the HLG format) to a appropriate TV. You do want an up to date Sky Q box nevertheless, as earlier fashions weren’t able to sending HDR alerts.
It could additionally output Dolby Atmos audio on motion pictures and sporting occasions. You will have a appropriate encompass sound setup or soundbar to take advantage of it although.
Sky Glass can also be 4K HDR succesful, however via its personal show. It helps HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision.
Dolby Atmos can also be supported, however Sky Glass has its personal six speaker sound system constructed into the TV. That features upfiring drivers that add additional peak channels for a extra immersive expertise.
Sky Glass vs Sky Q: Expertise
- Sky Glass: Full Sky expertise plus apps – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Paramount+, BBC iPlayer, and so on
- Sky Q: Full Sky expertise plus apps – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, Paramount+, BBC iPlayer, and so on
Whereas the content material is (clearly) the identical throughout each Sky Q and Sky Glass, the expertise is just a little completely different.
They share comparable design language, however Sky Glass’ person interface retains issues just a little extra easy.
Each allow entry to Sky content material and all the gamut of dwell TV channels – they’ve full digital programme guides too. And, every additionally contains third-party apps and integration of their very own reveals and flicks, resembling Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Disney+. Nonetheless, Sky Glass begins with a homepage the place your most up-to-date viewings, favorite channels and even related gadgets are entrance and centre.
You get comparable on Sky Q (with out separate related sources), however with a extra apparent sidebar menu system.
One main distinction between them is the addition of Look on Sky Glass. This is sort of a screensaver for the TV, which prompts when a movement sensor detects you might be within the room. It at present reveals adverts for highlights on Sky and its companion’s companies. You possibly can flip it off within the settings.
Sky
Sky Q
Sky Q is Sky’s satellite tv for pc TV possibility within the UK. You get a Sky Q field that hyperlinks with a satellite tv for pc dish and may document reveals and movies straight onto the gadget itself. The field additionally provides entry to on demand content material and streaming apps.
Sky Glass vs Sky Q: Recordings
- Sky Glass: Cloud recording with Playlist performance
- Sky Q: Native storage for recordings – 1TB & 2TB HDD choices
One other main distinction between Sky Q and Sky Glass is there is no such thing as a direct recording performance on the latter. Whereas it comprises a modicum of inner storage, that is for software program updates quite than buyer use.
It affords a function referred to as “Playlists” as a substitute, whereby you possibly can faucet a Playlist button on the distant and retailer the present or movie into your Playlist rail. This may both give easy accessibility to content material streamed through first and third-party companies, or document reveals as they’re broadcast and retailer them within the cloud.
Like Sequence Hyperlink on Sky Q, it would mechanically embody new reveals if it is an ongoing collection, as they’re broadcast or added to a service. Plus, it attracts all episodes which might be obtainable regardless of the supply. For instance, when you Playlist a present whereby some episodes are on Amazon Prime Video, however later collection are a part of Sky’s personal on demand service, they may all be listed no matter host.
Principally, the Playlist function works very similar to recordings, however all tagged programmes are streamed quite than saved.
An ordinary Sky Q field has a 1TB exhausting drive to document programming (together with the flexibility to set Sequence Hyperlinks). It’s also possible to get a 2TB model on request, however will value a good bit additional as an preliminary outlay – £99 at present.
Sky Glass vs Sky Q: Multiscreen
- Sky Glass: Multiscreen via Sky Stream Puck – as much as 4K HDR
- Sky Q: Multiscreen via Sky Q Mini field – as much as 1080p
Sky Glass wins in relation to multiroom streaming.
Sky Q Multiscreen is thru separate bins, referred to as Sky Q Mini bins. Each is sort of a Sky Q field in itself, however solely outputs 5.1 audio and 1080p video. There isn’t any 4K HDR nor Dolby Atmos.
They’re nice for watching all Sky content material and your recordings in different rooms in your house, however can not view Extremely HD reveals or movies. That features something recorded from a 4K channel or supply. Your 4K recordings merely will not play via a Sky Q Mini field.
Sky Glass’ Multiscreen bins – the Sky Stream Puck – is 4K HDR (Dolby Imaginative and prescient) enabled so can current the very same content material on a separate display screen to the primary Sky Glass TV.
One main profit to that is that, if you don’t want to switch your front room expertise with a Sky Glass TV however nonetheless need the expertise, you possibly can put Sky Glass in a separate room and use a Sky Stream Puck in your principal viewing space.
Sky Glass vs Sky Q: Pricing
Pricing for Sky merchandise is comparatively sophisticated, because it depends upon the channel packages and whether or not you want a multiroom resolution or not.
Sky Glass is out there on both a one-off or month-to-month cost foundation, nevertheless it’s price noting that you will want a Sky Final TV bundle on the very least.
The TV itself comes in 43-, 55- and 65-inch screen sizes (Small, Medium and Massive), costing a £10 free upfront, plus £14, £19 and £24 per 30 days respectively payable throughout 48 months. A 24-month possibility is out there too, at £28, £38 and £48 per 30 days respectively, with a £20 upfront price.
Alternatively, you should purchase them outright for £699 (43-inch), £949 (55-inch) or £1,149 (65-inch).
You then add your TV bundle on high, which is equally priced to Sky Q equivalents. For instance, Sky Final TV is £26 per 30 days for each Sky Glass and Sky Q.
Multiscreen on each prices £15 per 30 days additional, however you then must buy the Sky Stream Puck gadgets for Sky Glass individually (as much as six in whole). You get one Sky Q Mini field with Sky Q Multiscreen, but additionally must buy further ones (as much as 4).
Further Sky Q Mini bins value £99 every. A Sky Stream Puck prices £50. They aren’t interchangeable and require Sky Q or Sky Glass respectively. A Sky Stream gadget will quickly be a standalone possibility although, which you can learn about here.
Add-ons for Sky Q embody Sky Sports activities, Sky Cinema, Disney+ and Extremely HD – costs for them fluctuate, with offers usually obtainable. Sky Glass additionally has add-ons for Extremely HD HDR and Dolby Atmos,
Principally, when you take the {hardware} out of the equation, pricing throughout Sky Q and Sky Glass could be very comparable. There would possibly simply be a pound or two in it.
Nonetheless, one of the simplest ways to match the general Sky Glass and Sky Q pricing is to take a look at an equal TV set and soundbar bundle too (as you get all of that wrapped up into Sky Glass).
An LG 43-inch LED TV will (roughly) value you £450, whereas an inexpensive Dolby Atmos soundbar will set you again a minimum of £399 – so roughly £850 collectively. That is already £200 greater than Sky Glass will value for the same resolution.
You additionally must pay a £20 set up price to have the Sky Q field arrange in your house.
Sky Glass vs Sky Q: Conclusion
Whereas Sky Q and Sky Glass supply entry to the identical dwell and on demand content material, the latter has some apparent benefits. You do not want a satellite tv for pc dish, for starters. Though you do want respectable broadband.
Maybe the largest benefit is that you just get every thing in the identical gadget – a TV, Dolby Atmos speaker system, and all of the content material dwell and on demand you would ever hope for. Plus, the Multiscreen proposition is healthier, with Pucks providing a better decision and HDR.
If you have already got a good TV and sound resolution although, and do not wish to swap both, Sky Q is a superb possibility.
However, to throw a last spanner within the works, Sky additionally affords a Sky Stream service whereby you will get one in every of its streaming Pucks while not having Sky Glass too – you simply plug it into your personal TV. That is likely to be price additional investigation earlier than you make that last resolution: Sky Stream review – the future of Sky TV?
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